Group arranging conveyer mechanism



Sept 20, 1949 c. E. MELHORN 2,482,427

GROUP ARRANGING CONVEYER MECHANISM Filed May 3, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Sept 20, 1949- c. E. MELHORN GROUP ARRANGING CONVEYER MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 3, 1947 i l I lNvENToRV A/PLEjYh//o/M Zym' f7/m 4ATTORNEYS Sept. 2G, 1949. c. E. MELHORN 2,422,427

GROUP ARRANGING CONVEYER MECHANISM 5 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 Filed May 5, 1947 TJ y. 1

INVENTOR CAn EIIYH Hoff/v ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 20, 1949 i UNlTeo-ff STAT es PAT OFFICE 2,482,427l Y j GROUP 'Anamvdnvc? :jc 1\1vr`:vnn' j MECHANISM" :ik Carl E. Melhorn, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Package Machinery Company, East Longv y meadow, Massy., a corporation of Massachusetts ApplicatioMays, 1947, serial No. 745,849

This invention relates to an improvement' in devices for forming gum; packages and more par.- ticularly to a device for assembling a plurality of small wrapped.: articles such'as'fgu'm sticks' or the-like ajpluralityof superposed groups preparatory to enclosing. the group in-a-common v vrapperorlabel.` V; i The .principal object of the: -.invention is to provide `a device of the above vcharacter which willoperate at a relatively high speed upon relatively small thin Aarticles without .damaging the articles, or misplacing or tearing the wrappers in which each is individually enclosed.Av i

Other and further objects residing inthe details of construction will ,bemadeapparentin the following specification and claims. In the accompanying drawings which disclose one embodiment of the invention, 1

Fig. 1 isa side elevationalview, lparts being broken away;

Fig. 2 isasection substantially on line 2-2 ofFig.1; N

Fig. 3 is a section substantially online 3 3 ofFig.1;

Fig. 4 is an end .elevational viewof the struc- 4 emma (cl. 19e-31) ture shown in Fig. fl, lookingfrom-the leftin the lattergure;4v

Fig. 5 is asection substantially on linel 5.-5

ofFig.4; j v

,Fig 6 is a detailed end view, on a larger scale,

oftheelevator; Y

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views showing successive steps Ain thepperation lo f the de.

vice; and

Fig. 1o is Y a. Ediagiami'atie iview fsr'iowingfthel driving connections of the, dischargemember.

yReferring to the drawings the device-vis shown as including a supplychannel, generally .indie cated at .I, which comprises asplitfplatform 2 andspaced side and4 upper guide members 3, Groups A, consistingof a plurality of individually wrapped gum sticks a arefed-into the channel I by Vany suitable means, not shown., Spaced from channel I Vis a delivery-channel 4 made up cfa split delivery platform 5, side guide members 6, and .spring pressed center plates 1.

Positioned between the supply and delivery channel is an elevator'device, which comprises spaced pairs of Aupper andflower guide members 8 and 9 respectively and intermediate,.guide.v

members I Il (Fig. 4) which form upper and lower assembly channels Il and I2. The membersl 8,'

Sand I0 arey fastened by machine screws v,I3 to.

a. cantilever -arm 'I4 secured to aA memberl,

f 2 I1 secured to frame I8, and reciprocated in its guides by means later described. l f Groups of gum fsticks are periodicallymoved from the supply platform 2 into the assembly channels .Il and I2 by a transfer member I9 and the contents of both assembly channels 'are subsequently simultaneously discharged onto the delivery-platform 5 by a'discharge member 20. Duringl the loading and discharging operations of thef transfer and discharge member the elevator'Y is moved froml its lowermost position, shown in Fig-.17 toits uppermost position Vshown in Fig..8 and backl to its lower position 'as' shown inFig.9. -fWhen the parts are in the positionv shown inFig. '7 the upper assembly channelfII is in alignment with the supply channell I. While the elevator dwells in this position the transfer memberlS moves from the dotted line position in-Fig. '7, in which it has engagedV the trailing edge of the rear gum stick of a group A on vthe supply platform, `to the full line position in that figure, to slide the engaged group of gum sticks into the-'upperrassemblychannel of the elevator. Asy the transfer member IQ leaves its forward full linepositionin Fig. 7 to return toits rearward .position'the elevator starts its movement upwardlyA to the position of Fig. 8, reaching the latter position shortly after the transfer merni-l ber commences its second forward movement to deliver a group of gum sticks intoV the lower as'- s'emblyy channel. The elevator dwells in this upperlposition Yuntil the transfer device completes its forward movement to slidethe second groupef gum sticks into the lower assembly channel as shown in full lines in Fig. 8. As the transfer member I9 completes the loadingofthe. lower assembly channel the discharge member E2Il has moved-beneath the assembly channelapprximatelyto the position shown in Fig; 8. As the transfer member I9 recedes theelevator. moves downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 9. During the. downward movement of the elevator, transfer member I9 moves rearwardly and as, or shortly after, the elevator reaches the position of Fig. 9 the transfer member I9 reaches the dotted line position in that figure andy discharge member 20 engages the trailing edge of the group ofarticls in' each channel as shown in full lines. I Member 20 commences its advance while member I9 completes its return movement, but since member I9 moves substantially twice as fast as member 20 member 2U completes the mounted for vertical 'reciprocation :in yguide way 55 discharge'of the g'umfgroups from both assembly channels into the delivery channel, at the same The elevator, transfer an'd..discli'ange?-` member are all driven fromraimaindrive sliaftt-Z? The elevator is reciprocatedineitissguide bwa carried by an arm 1I pivoted at 12 to a bracket 13 carried by the body of the support. Portion is normally held in closed position by a catch member 14 pivoted to the bracket 13 at 15. Member 14 is formed with a notch 16 which is pressed into locking engagement with a. pin 11 on arm 1iI-fbyfarspring'18. Bw'pressingicatcl 154 downwardlytagainst the acticniot spring1-8`-tlie pin 11 may be released from notch 16 permitting the arm 1I and the parts carried thereby to be swung outwardlypasr shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. A

Y handle T9"`eXt'ending from portion 10 facilitates opening the channels and the extent of opening cam 26'secured on a shaft 21,` carrying;` a,beve1;

gear 28 (Fig. 1) which meshes with a bevel gear 29 secured to main drive shaft 25. pivoted at 3VI to a bracket 32, carries a cam roll 33 alii end-which engagess camz 2161i 'Ilhefother end of lever 3! is connected. by^an.;adjustabla linle utoimember IIifof the elevator. The camffZa is formed-i withaJ high; portion 35l andi afvloW portion 36. When.rolls33.-rides,ontoithehigh portion;

the elevator, as.v will beapparentiromflig.; 4'.is movedto itsupper-position-.andisheldtherevvhile. the Vner-tion 35i/.completes its travel: beneathvroll 33e.` The. roll,I 33tY ismaintained in.contact.with the, cam by1a springi 31.. As-cari'i.1ollv follows iheflriw.-camportionv 36::the-elevator. moves downe- Waridtoandt dwells in lowered position.

The transfer memberfI lids;carried; atr-thelowen end of a lever 38 (Fig. l), pivotally connected: at

its-upperlendftova link 39 Whichinturnris pivotally connected.LA to` a.- frame member: 40s: Adjacent member] 9 the 1 levertv 3 Ifis. alsorpivotallyf: connecter edf-,togr a? link; 4I one-` end' of Whiclfi iss'connected ai, link..t 42?r to..` frameZ member .Werther other-rend; off link-.411.. beingeconneeted .to ai crankfdia Crank- 43 isxed f. to a shaft y 44,3 journaled; ingframeedil; and.;- carriesV a@ gearr 45; meshing Withr; a2. g 45, secured on a-shaft- `41. Shaft;v 4-1 -alsja carrieseaz sprocket 48@ driven by; sprocket,chainr Metroid: aifspiocket;asecured on main:-sl'iaftz25.' By means.` ofgthe.- drive and` linkage: juste described the transfer-z member I 9c is: causedvtoftravel; in' the closed` path indicated; inf brokenrlin'esr; atrszuf Figs.` '7i-toga;

The lbar-ZI which carriesfthe dischargeememe bei; 204,-;anf1f; memberst 22 isfdriven--byvmeanszfbest showniniligsil andl. The barf-Zflwfisz secured; topthe upper end-of ai lever 52theflcwer-:endiof: Whichfisfpivotallyl conneetedyattvtova levenh: one endyotwhichxis lnkedgtoea xed pivots. 52 byfeaglinkge Theether'endof-lever 54 fisico nectedtoqa crankz5`1 secured to afshaftss; Interi-t mediatefitsfends llevers 52.'- is-f. pfvotedra "frtae lever; one;V ende of which-= is linked to' i: pivotgl fbyf-ai-,linkSil:V The othernend; ofrlever 69x' iseconnected y to; a f crank;l S'Swsecuredato :the nnairlz driveishaf-tf;2.5?Y Shaft,5zzfisfdrivenffrom@the drive shaft through a gear 64 secured te .shafti 5I?` which meshes-.with an f intermediate egear 6 5 meshingawith-fa'gear 66 onathefmainidrive shafts Bythe; parallel linkage and lgearirigtrj .ust 'dc-:eseribeclz: member 20 isscaused torftrayel-irrithe aarrcosedzpathx indicated at'yg-in broken,` linesaA Preferablyfand; as besttshovmirrlig; 6;.1; ther outer-fmernberf teach-:pai-r ofim'embers Ssandz I lltfiseconnectedfto gtheffcantileverfsupnort: I 4'lin a.; marmer: toghe-rswung;outwardlys` to; gveraecess theeassernblrygfchannelsin-Ktheelevatore' Eorfsthisi purposthefportiorrl10rfof;tire-eSupport :to vvliictn mnvmentistl'imitedrby the engagement of a pin carried 11|, wth bracket 13.

Gineoithembjects of the present invention is prbvideifbn the safe handling of thin gum sticks with a minimum of danger of damaging tliest'i'ckfs, or misplacing or tearing the individual Wrappings of the sticksi The entrance edges of guiiieimembersi an .9 Landi Uli*aref:madeT relatively thiclnand raundedz'lasaindicatedtat Hi sm thattthe wrapped gum*J sticksfmayx besfihtroducfed 'interne assemblyl s channels with;1 at'A minimum-i ofi: danger andi imttrzabsenceof'shanpe'tlgest It; ifdesiiable thatfith'e twofsuperpisedgrup'sileave the elevator: in as close proximity as possible-tbimiiiirnize-tle possibiltyr` oflftiieiif`disaarangementA The Anter-- mediateiguidei-members Imaretlierefrelprgie sivelyJ reducfedini tliilnessftcward'i theJ discharge endfofftlfie channels; tleheightf'of -tlie'channel themselvesibeihgmaitaletfunifbrm throughout their length? 1e Af' Ydevicef-efthe= eiawaeter d'seritew which comprises a supply A'cllamlelal disol'iargei'cl'ianiil spaeeuifrometlesupplreharmen av'erticaliyimvable elevator meel'ranism*pusittmed'Y Between the" suppl-yannidischargeechannels; upperfland lower article assembly channels formed in tiegelevatbr",L

assembly 'cnanneliicludinga'paiivor transversely spaced supporting members extending' from on'eend ofitieelevator tbitleother'-, aftransfer mechanism, including a member engageablie witltheltraiiigedge'ofiai'groupjofiwrappedfartielespo'sitioried* imthesupply'cltannel" when tli' elevator is in lowered position witittier entrance toA the' upper assembiy1 channel* registering fwtn the supply channel and the exits of both assembly" channelsregisteringfwltliithefdiscliargeicliannel, cam means advancing said transirfmeinberft meve-t1ie'-A engagedgroupintoisaid upper assembly,A channel andlretiirn#said"l transfer*- nre'mberfinw. closed path to group engaging position?imeans"v to raisetlievelevatordringgltrieretiirnlmovement of tlfie-tra-lisier'-n'iemberfafncripgositirrittici-entrance off' tif'e lwereassemblyf.-cl'annelfE at? tleLA l'eveiii'of tliesupplyclianneltoreceive groupiofiartcles'f on i the# nextfforwardt movementiof' the {tails-fer? member? means"tofflowertheelvator tbitsfir-'1itial position; a-'vdis'eriargmemberferrgagi-ngthef all# ing# edgesittle *ffartilsin ibeth -tlieu'p-H pereand lower'fassemblychannels-and meansitog attivaifit'seL sadflfdiscliargitmenrber tc'iim'crv YtHe"L groups'aot 'articles' mitliefas's'ernbly`mr 'Hanelssintif supeposed relatioirnlitlfiediscla '-et'cliannelsnl# stantlall-y `-siniultanni)usiyivvil'atftheeadvanceofi a grbupiot? articles" intbthe upperrassemilyfclfiaff nel-I1 by theiff mevelnt' oflith'ebtia'i'isfrl member-rl' tliezouterfmembers 8; 1 azzandfz I 0 rarersecu-reinisi mehr upperA vmaisleuven:articlesarseriibiyrciianiela formed in the elevator, each assembly channel including a pair of transversely spaced supporting members, a transfer mechanism including a member engageable with the trailing edge of a group of articles positioned in the supply channel, means to move said transfer member in a closed path between said point of article engagement and the entrance to the elevator assembly channels, means to reciprocate said elevator between a position, in which the entranceV to the upper assembly channel is in register with the supply channel and the exits from both aS- sembly channels are in register with the discharge channel, and a position in which the entrance Vto the lower assembly channel is in register with the supply channel, a discharge member engageable with the trailing edge of an article group in each elevator channel when the elevator is in its lower position and movable from said point of article engagement forwardly between said spaced supporting members to a point forwardly of the elevator, Yand means to move said discharge member in a closed path between said points at an overall speed approximately half that of the transfer member, the termination of the first loading advance of the transfer member substantially coincidingV with the termination of the discharging advance of the discharge member.

3. A device of the character described which comprises a supply channel, a discharge channel, a vertically movable elevator mechanism positioned between Vthe supply and discharge channels, said elevator comprising a cantileversupport, transversely spaced pairs of upper, intermediate and lower guide members carried by said support and forming two superposed article assembly channels, the edges of said guide members at the entrance to said channels being relatively thick and rounded, said 4intermediate members decreasing in thickness from the entrance to the exit of the channels, Vmeans to reciprocate said cantilever support between a lower position, in which the entrance to the upper assembly channel is in register with the supply channel and the exits of both assembly channels are in register with the discharge channel, and an upper position in which the entrance to the lower assembly channel is in register with the supply channel, means operating through the space between said pairs of guide members to discharge articles from both assembly channels in superposed relation into the discharge channel when the elevator is in said lower position, and transfer means to feed articles from the supply channel into the upper assembly channel as articles in said upper channel are discharged therefrom, and to feed articles into said lower channel when the elevator is in said upper position.

4. A device of the characterdescribed which Vcomprises a supply channel, a discharge chanbers at the entrance to said assembly channels,

being relatively thick and rounded, said intermediate members decreasing in thickness from the entrance to the exit of the Yassembly channels, means to reciprocate said cantilever support between a lower position, in which the entrance to the upper assembly channel is in register with the forward end of the supply chan- 'nel and the exits of both assembly channels are in register with the rear end of the discharge channel, and an upper position in whichV the entrance to the lower assembly channel is in register with the supply channel, means operating through thespace between the pairs olY guide members to discharge articles from both channels in superposed relation into the discharge channel when the elevator is in said lower position, vand transfer means to feed articles from the supply channel into the upper assembly channel as articles in said upper channel are discharged therefrom, and to feed articles into said lower channel when the elevator is in said upper position.

CARL E. MELHORN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Y 1,648,252 Aldrich et al Nov. 8, 1927 V1,831,844, Morris Oct'. 11, 1932 2,020,552 Hills Nov. 12, 1935 2,281,006 Nicodemus l Apr.,28, 1942 

